Sligo racecourse at Cleveragh has hosted a number of cross country events over recent years. The racecourse itself is one lap of almost eight furlongs – a mile circuit and there is a wonderful vista across the town to blue ridge hills and beyond to Ben Bulben. As well as an interior grass track alongside the tarmac strip for ambulances during race meetings, there are a number of grassy tracks up and down the slopes. It recently hosted the Connacht senior, masters, and novices championships.
Mayo AC's Ann Lennon was the overall winner of the 4,000 metres in a combined field of 40. She entered the competition in masters category. Competitors have to stay in the category entered for all three legs of the championships. Lennon (now W50 ) has been in great form this season winning over a range of distances on the road from 5k to half marathon. This was her first cross country event since the National Masters in 2014 at Dunboyne – another successful day for Mayo AC women when Lennon was fifth overall and won silver W45 behind Colette Tuohy second overall, and gold W45 with the M35 team in bronze.
Ann Murray was another Mayo AC finisher in 13th place, with Noreen McManamon 14th. The next Connacht Cross Country Senior League leg is at South Park, Galway, this Sunday October 30. It will follow the juvenile evens races starting at 12 noon.
